20 Questions (Vol. VI)

Choices wrote on the Chat thread:

Whatever it is supposedly happens during the DADA O.W.L. exam and I have read through that chapter, then on another question it doesn't happen in that chapter. I am totally confunded and out of questions.

Hint: I think it is the definite article that is misleading you. We read about more than one DADA O.W.L. exam in OotP.

Keep trying, please.


1. Is it now, or has it ever been, alive? Hm... I'll say no (but the wording of the question is such that I could say yes as well).
2. Do we see it in more than one book? No.
3. Do we see it in an odd-numbered book? Yes.
4. Is it in a book with "of" in the title? Yes.
5. Is it in OP? Yes.
6. Is it magical? No, I don't think so.
7. Is it something that can be touched? Yes.
8. Do we see it at Hogwarts? Yes.
9. Is it a plant that was once living, but is now used in making potions? No.
10. Is it something small enough that a person could hold it? Yes.
11. Is it something that can be eaten? No.
12. Is it a person? No.
13. Do we see it anywhere besides Hogwarts? No.
14. Does this item belong to Harry? No.
15. Does it belong to one of the professors? Yes and no.
16. Does the item in question belong to Hogwarts rather than to an individual or individuals? Regarding ownership, I think it is possible to say that this item belongs to Hogwarts, but it also belongs to and is associated with one particular person.
17. Is it associated with Dumbledore? No.
18. Is it associated with Umbridge? No.
19. Is it associated with Hagrid? No.
20. Do we see it in a classroom or teaching situation? Broadly speaking, yes.
21. Does this thing make an appearance during an O.W.L. exam? Yes.
22. Is it seen during the potions O.W.L.? No.
23. Do we see it during the astronomy O.W.L.? No.
24. Do we see it during the charms O.W.L., when a student spell goes awry? No.
25. Do we read about it during the Transfiguration O.W.L.? No.
26. Does it happen during the DADA O.W.L.? Yes...
27. Is it something Harry does or uses? No.
28. Is it Professor Tofty clapping his hands after Harry performs a patronus charm? No.
29. The "nasty smile" on Umbridge's face, as she looked on from the doorway. No.
30. Are we in Chapter 31, in the passage where Harry casts the Patronus for the bonus point? No.

31. Do we see it in Snape's memory of his DADA O.W.L exam?

1. Is it now, or has it ever been, alive? Hm... I'll say no (but the wording of the question is such that I could say yes as well).
2. Do we see it in more than one book? No.
3. Do we see it in an odd-numbered book? Yes.
4. Is it in a book with "of" in the title? Yes.
5. Is it in OP? Yes.
6. Is it magical? No, I don't think so.
7. Is it something that can be touched? Yes.
8. Do we see it at Hogwarts? Yes.
9. Is it a plant that was once living, but is now used in making potions? No.
10. Is it something small enough that a person could hold it? Yes.
11. Is it something that can be eaten? No.
12. Is it a person? No.
13. Do we see it anywhere besides Hogwarts? No.
14. Does this item belong to Harry? No.
15. Does it belong to one of the professors? Yes and no.
16. Does the item in question belong to Hogwarts rather than to an individual or individuals? Regarding ownership, I think it is possible to say that this item belongs to Hogwarts, but it also belongs to and is associated with one particular person.
17. Is it associated with Dumbledore? No.
18. Is it associated with Umbridge? No.
19. Is it associated with Hagrid? No.
20. Do we see it in a classroom or teaching situation? Broadly speaking, yes.
21. Does this thing make an appearance during an O.W.L. exam? Yes.
22. Is it seen during the potions O.W.L.? No.
23. Do we see it during the astronomy O.W.L.? No.
24. Do we see it during the charms O.W.L., when a student spell goes awry? No.
25. Do we read about it during the Transfiguration O.W.L.? No.
26. Does it happen during the DADA O.W.L.? Yes...
27. Is it something Harry does or uses? No.
28. Is it Professor Tofty clapping his hands after Harry performs a patronus charm? No.
29. The "nasty smile" on Umbridge's face, as she looked on from the doorway. No.
30. Are we in Chapter 31, in the passage where Harry casts the Patronus for the bonus point? No.
31. Do we see it in Snape's memory of his DADA O.W.L exam? Yes!

1. Is it now, or has it ever been, alive? Hm... I'll say no (but the wording of the question is such that I could say yes as well).
2. Do we see it in more than one book? No.
3. Do we see it in an odd-numbered book? Yes.
4. Is it in a book with "of" in the title? Yes.
5. Is it in OP? Yes.
6. Is it magical? No, I don't think so.
7. Is it something that can be touched? Yes.
8. Do we see it at Hogwarts? Yes.
9. Is it a plant that was once living, but is now used in making potions? No.
10. Is it something small enough that a person could hold it? Yes.
11. Is it something that can be eaten? No.
12. Is it a person? No.
13. Do we see it anywhere besides Hogwarts? No.
14. Does this item belong to Harry? No.
15. Does it belong to one of the professors? Yes and no.
16. Does the item in question belong to Hogwarts rather than to an individual or individuals? Regarding ownership, I think it is possible to say that this item belongs to Hogwarts, but it also belongs to and is associated with one particular person.
17. Is it associated with Dumbledore? No.
18. Is it associated with Umbridge? No.
19. Is it associated with Hagrid? No.
20. Do we see it in a classroom or teaching situation? Broadly speaking, yes.
21. Does this thing make an appearance during an O.W.L. exam? Yes.
22. Is it seen during the potions O.W.L.? No.
23. Do we see it during the astronomy O.W.L.? No.
24. Do we see it during the charms O.W.L., when a student spell goes awry? No.
25. Do we read about it during the Transfiguration O.W.L.? No.
26. Does it happen during the DADA O.W.L.? Yes...
27. Is it something Harry does or uses? No.
28. Is it Professor Tofty clapping his hands after Harry performs a patronus charm? No.
29. The "nasty smile" on Umbridge's face, as she looked on from the doorway. No.
30. Are we in Chapter 31, in the passage where Harry casts the Patronus for the bonus point? No.
31. Do we see it in Snape's memory of his DADA O.W.L exam? Yes!
32. Is it associated with Remus Lupin? In some way, it can be associated with him, yes.

33. Does it have to do with the exam question about werewolves on the DADA O.W.L. Snape and the Marauders took?

1. Is it now, or has it ever been, alive? Hm... I'll say no (but the wording of the question is such that I could say yes as well).
2. Do we see it in more than one book? No.
3. Do we see it in an odd-numbered book? Yes.
4. Is it in a book with "of" in the title? Yes.
5. Is it in OP? Yes.
6. Is it magical? No, I don't think so.
7. Is it something that can be touched? Yes.
8. Do we see it at Hogwarts? Yes.
9. Is it a plant that was once living, but is now used in making potions? No.
10. Is it something small enough that a person could hold it? Yes.
11. Is it something that can be eaten? No.
12. Is it a person? No.
13. Do we see it anywhere besides Hogwarts? No.
14. Does this item belong to Harry? No.
15. Does it belong to one of the professors? Yes and no.
16. Does the item in question belong to Hogwarts rather than to an individual or individuals? Regarding ownership, I think it is possible to say that this item belongs to Hogwarts, but it also belongs to and is associated with one particular person.
17. Is it associated with Dumbledore? No.
18. Is it associated with Umbridge? No.
19. Is it associated with Hagrid? No.
20. Do we see it in a classroom or teaching situation? Broadly speaking, yes.
21. Does this thing make an appearance during an O.W.L. exam? Yes.
22. Is it seen during the potions O.W.L.? No.
23. Do we see it during the astronomy O.W.L.? No.
24. Do we see it during the charms O.W.L., when a student spell goes awry? No.
25. Do we read about it during the Transfiguration O.W.L.? No.
26. Does it happen during the DADA O.W.L.? Yes...
27. Is it something Harry does or uses? No.
28. Is it Professor Tofty clapping his hands after Harry performs a patronus charm? No.
29. The "nasty smile" on Umbridge's face, as she looked on from the doorway. No.
30. Are we in Chapter 31, in the passage where Harry casts the Patronus for the bonus point? No.
31. Do we see it in Snape's memory of his DADA O.W.L exam? Yes!
32. Is it associated with Remus Lupin? In some way, it can be associated with him, yes.
33. Does it have to do with the exam question about werewolves on the DADA O.W.L. Snape and the Marauders took? Yes.
34. Is this item associated particularly with Snape? Yes.

35. Is it Snape's answer sheet?

1. Is it now, or has it ever been, alive? Hm... I'll say no (but the wording of the question is such that I could say yes as well).
2. Do we see it in more than one book? No.
3. Do we see it in an odd-numbered book? Yes.
4. Is it in a book with "of" in the title? Yes.
5. Is it in OP? Yes.
6. Is it magical? No, I don't think so.
7. Is it something that can be touched? Yes.
8. Do we see it at Hogwarts? Yes.
9. Is it a plant that was once living, but is now used in making potions? No.
10. Is it something small enough that a person could hold it? Yes.
11. Is it something that can be eaten? No.
12. Is it a person? No.
13. Do we see it anywhere besides Hogwarts? No.
14. Does this item belong to Harry? No.
15. Does it belong to one of the professors? Yes and no.
16. Does the item in question belong to Hogwarts rather than to an individual or individuals? Regarding ownership, I think it is possible to say that this item belongs to Hogwarts, but it also belongs to and is associated with one particular person.
17. Is it associated with Dumbledore? No.
18. Is it associated with Umbridge? No.
19. Is it associated with Hagrid? No.
20. Do we see it in a classroom or teaching situation? Broadly speaking, yes.
21. Does this thing make an appearance during an O.W.L. exam? Yes.
22. Is it seen during the potions O.W.L.? No.
23. Do we see it during the astronomy O.W.L.? No.
24. Do we see it during the charms O.W.L., when a student spell goes awry? No.
25. Do we read about it during the Transfiguration O.W.L.? No.
26. Does it happen during the DADA O.W.L.? Yes...
27. Is it something Harry does or uses? No.
28. Is it Professor Tofty clapping his hands after Harry performs a patronus charm? No.
29. The "nasty smile" on Umbridge's face, as she looked on from the doorway. No.
30. Are we in Chapter 31, in the passage where Harry casts the Patronus for the bonus point? No.
31. Do we see it in Snape's memory of his DADA O.W.L exam? Yes!
32. Is it associated with Remus Lupin? In some way, it can be associated with him, yes.
33. Does it have to do with the exam question about werewolves on the DADA O.W.L. Snape and the Marauders took? Yes.
34. Is this item associated particularly with Snape? Yes.
35. Is it Snape's answer sheet? Yes, Mona. It is the parchment on which he writes his long answer with his minuscule and crumped handwriting.

I'm sorry for the confusion about the O.W.L. exam. It was misleading but I did not want to give away too much and too soon by pointing out the misunderstanding right away. Some questions were difficult to answer. The parchment is not a living thing but it is made of animal skin, and the very first question was if it had ever been alive... LOL. Q15 was also a tricky one because the exam answer belongs to Snape, and we know him primarily as a teacher, yet, at this point he is a student. But it could also be argued (Q16) that an exam with all the question sheets and answer sheets belongs to the school in general.

Well done, Mona! The next game is yours!

Thanks, Julia!

OK, I've thought of something. Let the questions begin!

1. Is it now, or has it ever been alive?

2. Is it magical?

1. Is it now, or has it ever been alive? No
2. Is it magical? Well...partly No

3. Is it a place?

1. Is it now, or has it ever been alive? No
2. Is it magical? Well...partly No
3. Is it a place? Yes!

4. Do we see it in more than one book?

5. Is this place located in Scotland?

1. Is it now, or has it ever been alive? No
2. Is it magical? No
3. Is it a place? Yes!
4. Do we see it in more than one book? No
5. Is this place located in Scotland? We aren't told where it is located

6. Does Harry visit this place?

7. Do we see it in an even-numbered book?

1. Is it now, or has it ever been alive? No
2. Is it magical? No
3. Is it a place? Yes!
4. Do we see it in more than one book? No
5. Is this place located in Scotland? We aren't told where it is located
6. Does Harry visit this place? No
7. Do we see it in an even-numbered book? No

8. Do we see it in a book with "of" in the title?

8. Do we actually read about something happening in this place (as opposed to just having it mentioned somewhere)?

1. Is it now, or has it ever been alive? No
2. Is it magical? No
3. Is it a place? Yes!
4. Do we see it in more than one book? No
5. Is this place located in Scotland? We aren't told where it is located
6. Does Harry visit this place? No
7. Do we see it in an even-numbered book? No
8. Do we see it in a book with "of" in the title? No
9. Do we actually read about something happening in this place (as opposed to just having it mentioned somewhere)? Yes We actually read about something happening here.